I don't have any experience with the Kenmore Elite frontloader series. When my last washer needed replacing (all my former washers had been conventional washers), I did a lot of research on both front- and toploading HE washers. The TL HE seemed to be most practical for my situation.

I bought a Maytag Bravos MTW6700 in May of 2008. As you know, that model has been superseded by the models now available. As I'm sure you already know, it's an Energy Star HE top loader - no agitator, huge capacity (mine is 4.6 cu ft), very efficient when it comes to water and electricity.

I've not had any problem at all with mold, mildew, odor, or vibration. I do leave the top open after I've put wet laundry into the dryer; it's only shut when laundry is in it.

Because my washer is a top loader, it can go on either side of the dryer with no problem. It is unbelievably quiet; the only sound I ever hear is water going in or draining out. I like it that there is a chime (not a buzzer) which alerts me when the washer is finished. The chime can be set on LO, HI, or OFF.

ALL my experiences thus far with this washer have been excellent - far beyond good. There haven't been any cons to this point.

The settings are very easy to use. I like it that I can choose water temp (hot/cold - warm/warm - warm/cold - cool/cold - cold/cold), spin speed (HI, MED, or LO), stain (pre-wash) cycle, extra rinse if needed, fabric softener if desired.

I also really the selection of wash cycles -- Bulky for comforters, Sheets for sheets, Whites (the only cycle which uses the bleach dispenser), Normal (I use it for everyday clothes), Jeans/T-shirts, Wrinkle Guard (my favorite for our really nice church/office clothes), Delicates (for fine washables), Hand Wash (I use it for sweaters and some "extra"-fine washables).

I really like the Soak cycle; I always use it on my guys' really dirty whites. I also like having a Rinse/Spin cycle and Spin cycle only. I use them more than I thought I would. There is also a Quick Wash cycle my DD really likes, and a Clean Washer cycle.

I like having detergent, bleach, and fabric softener dispensers. I use vinegar in the f/s dispenser when I wash towels, which helps to keep them soft and fluffy, as it strips all detergent out. (Fabric softener coats towels, which greatly reduces their absorbency.) I usually combine vinegar w/liquid fabric softener (about half and half) when washing clothes, sheets, and comforters.

I can wash many more laundry items per load in this washer (at least twice as many, sometimes 3x as many) than in the traditional top loader I had, which had the largest capacity on the market at the time I bought it. I can wash a king-size comforter in my washer with no problem.

Whereas I used to wash at least 7-10+ loads per week, now I wash 3-5 loads each week because I can wash so many things at once.

This washer gets my laundry much cleaner than any other washer I've ever owned, and it is gentle, even with the fast spin. I do use lower spin speeds on the Wrinkle Guard cycle, delicates, and fine washables.

When I wash sheets, they do not tangle as they used to do in my old washer w/agitator, and they dry much smoother, too. I haven't had any problem with my clothes wrinkling -- I do shake out clothes as I put them in the dryer, something I've always done.

I don't use regular laundry detergent, for I've read over-sudsing can cause damage to HE machines, as well as invalidate a warranty. An online article compared using regular laundry detergent in an HE washer to using regular dish detergent in a dishwasher.

Hope this helps. If you have any comments or further questions, let me know.

I think alot depends on the size of your family and the loads you would wash. I bought the 800 series this past Dec. If you do a search on Maytag Bravos on this forum you can read my rants about having problems with getting a LF code when doing whites, which uses hot water. I was very unhappy with the time it took to get parts and actually got them sooner than I was told I would cause I made such a fuss. Now that it has been fixed, I can say I love it for doing comforters, large bulky loads but just for my normal size loads, I feel its overkill. I know it adjusts the water level for small loads but I still feel I am doing as many loads as before cause of the way I sort my laundry.

As far as cleaning ability, if I were doing it again, I might go with the Kenmore. My husband has actually said that he doesn't think it cleans his yard clothes as well. This is from a man who could care less what his yard clothes look like!

The dryer does okay but I think my old Kenmore did just as good a job of keeping out the wrinkles. My old Kenmore had the door that opened down, not to the side and I hate that when you go to grab something out to hang up, other stuff falls out.

So you can probably tell - I'm not that crazy about the Bravos set. My son loves his - bought a year earlier.
If you have a big family, you would get the benefit of doing less loads I am sure.

Thanks for the feedback. I should have been more specific in referring to the Kenmore Elite. It is the Oasis HT 4.7 cf high-efficiency top load model. It is supposed to be their version of the Maytag Bravos.
I do a lot of laundry for a family of six. So, I am concerned about the need for repairs and having to be really careful about the use of the washer.
We looked into front loaders but, from the reviews, they seem to take too much attention when loading and after each use. That just makes me want to steer clear of them.
If anyone out there has the Kenmore, I would appreciate your comments and opinions.
I have read some negative reviews of both the Maytag and Kenmore. The reviews seem to be rather old though and I am wondering if all those problems and issues have been resolved with newer versions of the machines. Anyone still experiencing problems with machines purchased in the last 6-12 months?
Thanks for your help!

A DIL has the Kenmore Oasis Canyon Capacity washer -- I don't know the model number. She bought it about 2 years ago. She loved it from the start, as she and DS have four kids, he works in construction, and she washes both big and dirty loads of clothes.

The only problem she has ever mentioned to me is that she began detecting an odor when she used liquid detergent. (I'm not sure if it was HE formula or not, as she didn't specify that.) She said the problem went away when she switched to powder detergent.

She and DS got a great buy on it at a Sears scratch-n-dent store (I'm sure it's called something different, but that's basically what it is). It was brand new, had a tiny dent at the bottom which you can't see. They got it for less than 1/2 price.